Apparatus controlling the mechanism throwing clay targets in ball traps

ABSTRACT

A target-throwing apparatus comprises a frame, a turret mounted for rotational movement on the frame, a swinging throwing arm carried by a support tiltably mounted on the turret, an energystoring spring to swing the throwing arm, and mechanical connections which adjust the azimuth of the turret, the inclination of the tiltable support and the tension of the spring. A motor activates the connection which adjusts the tension of the spring, and a control device activates the motor so that the tension of the spring can be adjusted while the apparatus is in operation.

United States Patent Laporte [54] APPARATUS CONTROLLING THE MECHANISM THROWING CLAY TARGETS IN BALL TRAPS Pierre Laporte, Ponte de la Brogue, Antibec, Aipes Maritimes, France 22 Filed: Mar. 4, 1970 21 Appl.No.: 16,321

[72] Inventor:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 6, 1969 France ..6906183 Aug. 6, 1967 France ..6921259 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,225,754 12/1965 Foster ..124/9 [451 May 30,1972

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 19,339 8/1894 Great Britain ..124/8 526,116 5/1955 Italy ..124/9 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-R. T. Stoutfer Attorney-Young & Thompson [57] ABSTRACT 2 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Patented May 30, 1972 3,665,909

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APPARATUS CONTROLLING THE MECHANISM THROWING CLAY TARGETS IN BALL TRAPS The present invention relates to target-throwing apparatus of the type comprising a frame, a turret mounted for rotational movement on the frame, a swinging throwing arm carried by a support tiltably mounted on the turret, an energy storing spring adapted to swing the throwing arm, and means for adjusting the azimuth of the turret, the inclination of the tiltable support and the tension of the spring.

In known apparatus of this type, although it is often possible to modify the azimuth of the turret and the inclination of the support after each shoot, no means are provided for readily modifying the tension of the spring at will while the apparatus is beingoperated.

The aim of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which has not the aforesaid drawback of the known devices.

An apparatus according to the invention further comprises motor means for activating the means adapted to adjust the tension of the spring.

The accompanying drawings illustrate by way of example two embodiments of my improved mechanism.

FIG. 1 is an elevational partly sectional view of a first embodiment incorporating a single programmer controlling the three parameters, to wit: the bearing, the angle of elevation and the energy stored in the elastic means assumed to be constituted by a spring in the following disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a corresponding wiring diagram.

FIG. 3 is a general elevational view of the first embodiment FIG. 4 is an elevational, partly sectional view of the second embodiment wherein the three parameters are controlled separately.

FIG. 5 is a corresponding wiring diagram.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are modified diagrams showing the use of electromagnets and photocells respectively.

. Turning to FIG. 1, the frame A of a clay target-throwing apparatus includes an annular support 1 carried by a tripod 2 and rigid with a hollow cylinder 3 extending downwardly so as to guide, with the interposition of roller bearings 4, a tubular shaft 5 which carries a turret formed of a circular plate 6 fitted on the shaft 5 and an annular platform 7 secured to said plate by means of bolts 8. Said platform carries to either side of the rotary. axis two vertical flanges 9 which support a transverse shaft 10 for pivotally carrying a clay target throwing mechanism T. The latter, drawn in dot-and-dash lines, is carried through flanges Q pivotally fitted on the transverse shaft 10 and includes a throwing arm B and a plate P over which are stacked clay pigeons or targets. The turret is furthermore provided with a geared brake motor M the output shaft of which carries a pinion 1 1 located underneath the platform 7 and meshing with a stationary toothed crown 12 secured to the periphery of the annular support 1. The wires adapted to energize the motor are connected to the mains through the tubular shaft 5, rings 14 and cooperating brushes and wires 13. The wires are connected at 15 to the motor terminals and at 16 to ground. The connecting means at the lower end of the tubular shaft 5 are protected by a removable cap 17. The targetthrowing arm B is carried in a conventional manner by a shaft 18 to which is secured a crank connected through a ball joint 20 to a connecting rod 21 subjected to the action of an energystoring spring R.

According to the invention the end of the spring R remote from the rod 21 is coupled through a rod and a ball joint 22 to the crank pin of a further crank 23 keyed to the shaft 24 rotably supported in bearings carried by a U-shaped bracket secured to the platform 7. The lower end of shaft 24 located underneath the platform carries a pinion 25 also meshing with the stationary toothed crown 12. The rotation of the turret constrains, therefore, the rod 22 to assume a reciprocation which modifies the tensioning of the spring R.

To the shaft 24 is furthermore secured a bevel pinion 26 meshing with another bevel pinion 27 rigidly connected to a shaft carried by a flange of the U-shaped bracket. The lastmentioned shaft carries a crank 28 the crank pin of which is connected to the throwing mechanism T, through a connecting rod 31 with two ball joints 29, 30 and through a member 32. It is thus apparent that the rotation of the turret causes the throwing mechanism T to assume a variable inclination. The connecting rods 21 and 31 and the arms of the different cranks are preferably of adjustable lengths.

Conventional means are provided for stopping the rotation of the turret upon a projection carried by it engaging a contact-piece or micro switch selected by the setting of a circuit selector. To this end, the current feeding the motor M from the mains X,Y(FIG. 2) passes through a contact-piece 36 of a switch controlled by a relay H and which is normally closed when the relay is deenergized. An arcuate insulated rail 33, the extent of which matches the angular operative field of the turret along the periphery of the gear crown 12, carries micro switches c1,c2,c3 cooperating with a projection I carried by an arm 34 secured to a point at the periphery of the platform 7. Said projection is adapted to close transiently the micro switches over which it passes against the action of a spring. One temiinal of each micro switch is connected to the insulated rail or bus bar 33 while the other is connected to the corresponding contact-piece of the circuit selector, which is in the form of a multiple switch G provided with a selectively settable slider 37. Said slider is connected through the winding 38 of the above-mentioned relay H to the terminal 39 of a DC. source of say 24 volts the circuit being closed over the other terminal 40 by the closed micro switch as provided by the insulated rail or bus bar 33 and by the return lead 41.

The operation is as follows:

The motor is started, its feed circuit being closed by the switch 36 so that the projection I sweeps over the micro switch, c1 for instance, selected by the circuit selector by manipulation of the slider 37 The closing of (:1 energizes the relay through the terminal 39, the relay winding 38, the slider 37, the closed micro switch 01, the rail 33, the lead 41 and the terminal 40. The relay H opens the switch 36 and the turret stops. The arm B may be actuated to throw a clay target according to a well-known procedure not described in detail here. The programmer changes the position of the slider 37 whereby the relay H is deenergized. The switch 36 closes and the motor starts the turret rotating again.

The conditions governing a throwing of the target may be adjusted by modifying the length of the crank arms 23 and 28 and that of the connecting rods 21 and 31 also the location of the micro switches along the arcuate rail 33.

Turning now to the second embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 7, the turret S1 is keyed through its hub 52 to the output shaft 53 of a speed reducer 54 driven by an electric motor Ma. Said turret is provided along its periphery with a tappet or projection 56 adapted to cooperate selectively with a plurality of micro switches such as Ca carried by an annular or arcuate support 57 extending along the periphery of the turret. One of the terminals of each micro switch is connected through a common insulated rail carried by said support with a battery or the like supply of electricity. The motor Ma may rotate the turret in an unvarying direction if the micro switches are distributed along a closed annulus. If they are distributed along a fraction only of the annulus, the motor may rotate the turret in alternating directions as provided by reversing switches (not shown) located at the ends of the support 57. When the revolving turret brings its projection 56 into registry with that micro switch which is connected with the contact-piece selected by the position of the. slider Fa on the multiple switch la, the turret stops. The operator may release the targetthrowing arm, and let the programmer change the position of slider Fa whereupon the turret starts revolving again so as to change the azimuth for the next thrust.

The throwing apparatus T is pivotally mounted on to the turret body by means of a horizontal transverse shaft extending across two vertical parallel flanges 55 of the turret, whereby the angle of elevation of the thrust can be adjusted. Furthermore, a spring R controlling the crank 58 of the throwing arm is pivotally secured through its end 59 remote from said crank to the crank pin 60 of the crank-forming disc 61. The latter is rotated by a geared brake motor Mr while a projection or tappet 62 on said 61 is adapted to cooperate with micro switches such as Cr distributed on a stationary support around the axis of said disc. The body of the throwing apparatus T is connected through an arm 63 and connecting rod 64 to the crank pin on a crank-forming disc 66 driven by a geared brake motor Ms. The disc 66 also carries a projection or tappet 67 cooperating with micro switches such as Cs. The arrangement, electric connections and operation are similar to those described with respect to the rotation of the turret.

In FIG. 5, la, Ir and Is designate multiple switches associated respectively with the turret 51 and crank-forming discs 61 and 66 controlling the tension of the spring and the angle of elevation respectively while Fa,Fr and Fs designate the corresponding sliders keyed to a common shaft -0 for all three multiple switches Ia, lr and 1:. Lastly, Ra,Rr and Rs designate relays cooperating with the respective multiple switches.

The operation is as follows:

Assuming the circuit selector has been set so that the shaft 00 carrying the sliders into the position illustrated in FIG. 5, it is apparent that each of the three controlling parts, the turret and the two crank-forming discs, closes a circuit and stops the corresponding motor in the following manner:

' For the turret the circuit passes out of the terminal 70 of the low voltage supply through the lead 71 connected with the arcuate supports 57, 57',57" of which the former carries the micro switches Ca associated with the turret and adapted to be closed selectively by the projection 56, the circuit being completed by the lead 72, the slider Fa, the lead 73, the coil of the relay Ra, the common return lead 74 and the other terminal 75 of the supply.

For the crank-forming disc 61, the circuit passes simultaneously from the terminal 70 through the lead 71, the support 57', the micro switches Cr selectively closed by the projection 62, the lead 76, the slider Fr, the lead 77, the coil of relay Rr, the lead 74 to return to the terminal 75 ,For the crank-forming disc 66, the circuit passes similarly between the terminals 70 and 75 through the lead 71, the support 57", the micro switches Cs selectively closed by the projection 67, the slider Fs, the lead 78 and the coil of relay Rs.

The energization of the relays Ra,Rr and Rs deenergizes the corresponding motors which are fed in parallel across the bus bars 7980 of the mains. All three motors, therefore, stop in the respective position selected by the programmer, thus determining the desired azimuth, angular elevation and tensioning of the spring.

, The tilt or angle of inclination and the tensioning of the spring defining the stored energy may be adjusted through different means, whether mechanical or otherwise, and the distribution of the micro switches may be modified in conformity with the arrangement of such adjusting means.

Shunts may be provided across the low voltage supply 70-75 so as to pass through switches adapted to deenergize the corresponding motors through the agency of relays. It is however possible to do without such shunts so that the switch energizes immediately the selected part which acts directly when the projection on the movable part considered reaches it so as to switch off the current feeding the corresponding motor.

FIG. 6 is a wiring diagram similar to those already described wherein the micro switches have been changed to electromagnets E of which that designated by E is energized through the slider F of amultiple switch G and shfts its movable core from 80 to 80' so as to act directly on a micro switch 81 which controls the current feeding the motor. For instance the movable controlling member, to wit the rotary turret carries said micro switch 81 of which a projection 82 may sweep freely over the retracted cores of the electromagnets other than E, but abuts against the projecting core of the energized electromagnet E. The micro switch 81 inserted in the circuit feeding the motor M is designed in a manner such that it is normally closed and opens when its projection 82 abuts against said core.

FIG. 7 shows a further modification wherein the micro switches have been changed to lamps L of which only one L is selected by the slider F of the multiple switch G and is bright. The turret carries inside a casing 83 a tube 84 extending radially of the turret and adapted to be illuminated by the rays of the bright lamp registering with it while a photo-cell associated with an amplifier is fitted inside said tube. It is readily apparent that when the tube 84 registers with a bright lamp L, the energized photo-cell acts on the relay R so as to deenergize the motor M.

It should be observed that my improved clay target-throwing apparatus is of a high interest for competition since a single apparatus provides a large number of different paths for the targets, said paths varying with three parameters distributed in a manner unforeseeable for the marksman, the same difi'erent paths being distribued in an aleatory manner similar to that of the distribution of packs of cards in a bridge competition. This cuts out the sealing of the apparatus used for competition and allows various rules of competition to be observed, even with the use of a single target thrower.

What I claim is:

l. A target-throwing apparatus comprising a frame, a turret mounted for rotation on said frame, a support tiltably mounted on said turret, a target-throwing arm mounted for swinging movement on said tiltable support, an energy-storing spring having one end operatively connected to said turret and the other end operatively connected to said target-throwing arm to swing said arm, means for adjusting the azimuth of said turret, the inclination of said tiltable support and the tension of said energy-storing spring, motor means for activating said adjusting means, and control means for said motor means, said motor means for adjusting the azimuth of said turret being a motor directly controlled by said control means and operatively connected to transmission means between said turret and said frame, the motor means for adjusting the inclination of said tiltable support and the tension of said energy-storing spring being constituted by mechanical connections activated by the rotational movement of the turret on the frame.

2. A target-throwing apparatus comprising a frame, a turret mounted for rotation on said frame, a support tiltably mounted on said turret, a target-throwing arm mounted for swinging movement on said tiltable support, an energy-storing spring having one end operatively connected to said turret and the other end operatively connected to said target-throwing arm to swing said arm, means for adjusting the azimuth of said turret, the inclination of said tiltable support and the tension of said energy-storing spring, motor means for activating said adjusting means, and control means for said motor means, said motor means for adjusting the azimuth of said turret, the inclination of said tiltable support and the tension of said energy-storing spring being respectively constituted by three independent motors selectively directly controlled by said control means, namely a first motor operatively connected to trans mission means between said turret and said frame and a second and third motor carried by said turret and respectively operatively connected to said tiltable support and to said energy-storing spring.

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1. A target-throwing apparatus comprising a frame, a turret mounted for rotation on said frame, a support tiltably mounted on said turret, a target-throwing arm mounted for swinging movement on said tiltable support, an energy-storing spring having one end operatively connected to said turret and the other end operatively connected to said target-throwing arm to swing said arm, means for adjusting the azimuth of said turret, the inclination of said tiltable support and the tension of said energy-storing spring, motor means for activating said adjusting means, and control means for said motor means, said motor meaNs for adjusting the azimuth of said turret being a motor directly controlled by said control means and operatively connected to transmission means between said turret and said frame, the motor means for adjusting the inclination of said tiltable support and the tension of said energy-storing spring being constituted by mechanical connections activated by the rotational movement of the turret on the frame.
 2. A target-throwing apparatus comprising a frame, a turret mounted for rotation on said frame, a support tiltably mounted on said turret, a target-throwing arm mounted for swinging movement on said tiltable support, an energy-storing spring having one end operatively connected to said turret and the other end operatively connected to said target-throwing arm to swing said arm, means for adjusting the azimuth of said turret, the inclination of said tiltable support and the tension of said energy-storing spring, motor means for activating said adjusting means, and control means for said motor means, said motor means for adjusting the azimuth of said turret, the inclination of said tiltable support and the tension of said energy-storing spring being respectively constituted by three independent motors selectively directly controlled by said control means, namely a first motor operatively connected to transmission means between said turret and said frame and a second and third motor carried by said turret and respectively operatively connected to said tiltable support and to said energy-storing spring. 